used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
terminate
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
burntadjectiveUS /bɜːrnt/
ruined by overcooking
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
clothing in general
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
compassnounUS /ˈkʌmpəs/
navigational instrument for finding directions
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
corknounUS /kɔːrk/
outer bark of the cork oak; used for stoppers for bottles etc.
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
Crusoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
a person who lacks good judgment
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
set up or found
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
goat-skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
hear with intention
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
lumpnounUS /lʌmp/
a compact mass
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
a form of address for a man
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
sailor-clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
soapnounUS /soʊp/
a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading I had a compass and a lantern in the canoe, but as there was a full moon I could see to steer for the opening in the reef without the compass.
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
a special situation
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
wakingadjectiveUS /ˈweɪ.kɪŋ/
Risen from sleep; conscious.
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading I was glad of this, for I did not want to light the lantern for fear that Mr. Crusoe might wake up and see it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
washverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
be dressed in
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
westerlyadverbUS /ˈwestərli/
toward the west
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
at the time that
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I had found my old flannel clothes, and I had a lump of soap with me, and when I got to the beach the first thing I did was to break out of my goat-skin clothes, wash the burnt cork off of myself, and put on my old sailor-clothes.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading There was a nice westerly breeze blowing that night about ten o’clock when I crept out of the house without waking Mr. Crusoe.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I felt comfortable then for the first time in a great many weeks, and I thought what a fool I would be to stay on the island and wear goat-skin clothes, and have to listen to stories about old Mr. Crusoe.
